Below is the text of Mr Major’s doorstep interview in Tokyo, held on Saturday 18th September 1993.

QUESTION:

Prime Minister, can I ask you what you make of all this talk about the leadership issue?

PRIME MINISTER:

We have heard all this in the past. I think there are one or two mavericks who raise the issue from time to time. It is frankly a non-issue.

QUESTION:

Do you think it undermines the purpose of your visit here?

PRIME MINISTER:

No, I don't think it undermines the purpose of the visit. The purpose here is political and the purpose is economic. There are huge opportunities for a much greater trade relationship with Japan, huge opportunities for British exports, huge opportunities for investment by Britain in Japan in the United Kingdom where many jobs have been created already.

QUESTION:

Some of your critics say that this is not the time for you to be out of the country and that you should be concentrating on domestic issues and reasserting your leadership.

PRIME MINISTER:

I would have thought that actually expanding British prosperity, expanding British trade, expanding the opportunities of British jobs, expanding the opportunity of British growth was very much in the British interest and that is what I am here to do.